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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Columbia Pictures Philippines) |
As the beloved brown bear Paddington sets off on a brand new adventure, the team behind Paddington In Peru weighs in on bringing the latest tale to the big screen. Hugh Bonneville, who reprises his role as Mr. Brown, was excited just upon reading the script, saying, “I was delighted that on page one I was chuckling, which is always a good sign.” Director Dougal Wilson, who takes the helm from Paul King who was the director of the first two Paddington films, understands the responsibility of handling an enduring story and is excited to share Paddington in Peru with the audience, saying, “These films and the character of Paddington himself have become very cherished, beloved and have essentially created a lot of anticipation for a bit more Paddington. That’s why I’m really excited for audiences to see the next part of the story that we’ve decided to tell. It’s obviously a huge responsibility and quite nerve-wracking, but I really hope this new chapter will be full of surprises and an appropriate expansion of Paddington’s world.”
Ben Whishaw, who returns to the film series as the voice of Paddington, was more than happy to be back on this journey. “After the success of the first two films, you couldn’t help but feel trepidatious about what the next film might involve. There is also a sense of pressure to not repeat the same thing. But I thought the concept was great because it is much more of an adventure than the other films. Paddington is much more in a position of jeopardy and risk. I thought it was very exciting, very funny, and moving too, so I was super excited by it.” Emily Mortimer, who joins the rest of the gang as Mrs. Brown, feels like the creative script is the perfect continuation of Paddington’s story, saying, “I just loved the adventure of this script. I thought it was so enjoyable and so inventive.” Another member of the Brown family is Sam Joslin, returning as Jonathan Brown. Joslin appreciates the wider world that Paddington is placed in with Paddington In Peru, saying, “It felt so much bigger and so much more expansive.” Joslin’s on-screen sister Madeleine Harris, who plays Judy Brown, was also completely captivated by the brand new tale, saying, “It’s a completely different ballgame with this film, and so it’s super exciting. It’s more adventurous, there’s a lot more action-based scenes, and I’m just really, really excited for this film.”
As with the first two highly acclaimed Paddington films, Paddington In Peru has been garnering praises from audiences and film critics for its unique story, animation, and humor. Paddington In Peru sees the iconic bear in a brand new adventure as he tries to get back to his roots and solve a mystery involving his family in his birthplace of Peru. Variety talks about how Paddington In Peru will appeal to moviegoing kids, writing, “Paddington in Peru is, as any Paddington adventure should be, fast and buoyant and disarmingly sunny in a way that viewers who weren’t alive — or at least of cinemagoing age — for the 2017 release of Paddington 2 will lap up.” Paddington’s thoughtful and beautiful animation was noted by The Hollywood Reporter, which writes, “Although returning players Hugh Bonneville, Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin as the other three Brown family members make significant contributions along with Mortimer, no one can hold the screen with a hard stare like Paddington. He pulls off one his best here, a perfectly calibrated study in facial movement, lighting (particularly in the brown-gold glitter of his eyes) and comic timing.”
The BBC praises how Paddington in Peru maintains the heart of the story from previous films, even in the brand new setting. “Dotted with waterfalls and piranhas, double crosses and Inca riddles, the Browns’ jungle quest is the subject of a wholesome, well-constructed, richly coloured adventure yarn with just enough of the eccentric charm, animated interludes and musical numbers that make the Paddington series what it is.” Slant mirrors these sentiments while also acknowledging the film’s message about familial roots and finding what home truly means, stating, “While it’s never didactic or heavy-handed about its messaging, Paddington in Peru also offers an idea of Britishness that’s multifaceted and modern, as the titular bear celebrates his official status as a citizen of the U.K. while reconnecting with his Peruvian roots.” Paddington In Peru hits Philippine cinemas on January 29, 2025 under Columbia Pictures.
